"Images of Ipoh" is 10 Years Old!!

I have been ceasing to post photos since January 2017 due to relocation of my career to Kuala Lumpur in August 2016. However, I am traveling very frequently back to Ipoh. This is a quite tiring practice and therefore I have been lacking of motivation to continue the postings. Anyway I wasn't stop taking any photo of Ipoh. So I can still post those photos back dated to maintain the continuity of this blog. It was never any expectation of how long this blog would survive when it was initiated. Coincidentally there is a very popular "10 years challenge" in the social network, which reminded me of this forgotten baby of mine. I feel so grateful that there is still comments asking me to continue posting photos here despite the inactivation for 2 years. Today, "Images of Ipoh" is reborn and I will do my best to continue sharing beautiful images of this beloved city. And this is the scene at the same shooting angle from my very first post in 17 January 2009.

We Are Number 6

This is truly a big surprise news, not just to Ipoh but the whole nation, that Ipoh is listed at sixth among the ten best Asia destinations to be visited in 2016 by Lonely Planet, a well-known international travel guide publisher. Over the years, Ipoh is probably a secondary destination of most travelers or just a pass-by city between Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Despite the increased number of tourists are plotting Ipoh in their traveling route, most Ipoh citizen do not realize the focus on this valley city. This could be resulting from the natural growth of many new tourist attraction spots without too much publicity and the effect of social networks that promote Ipoh through personal sharing. 

Ipoh has just reached a new milestone and much more effort needed from the locals to develop the tourism industry. This is a gifted home which surrounded by natural mountains & clean water falls, irreversible history & beautiful heritage, delicious food & hospitality, which would certainly impress our guests. We would go further by appreciating and appropriately utilizing these resources and advantages. Good luck Ipoh!

Syuen become Syeun

Syuen Hotel, one of the best known hotel in Ipoh, commenced business in 1993. Since then many people find that it's a little confuse of how to pronounce its name correctly. I have heard all kind of different way of calling it, such as "swan" and "soon", while we have used to call it "shoe-en", which should be the correct one. However, I have not noticed, until recently, that the hotel name has changed from "Syuen" to "Syeun", I didn't even find the difference in my previous post about this hotel. I hope I am not the last one knowing this..... lol.

 

A Recent Night Scene

I couldn't get a very nice photo because I wasn't carrying my tripod for capturing night scene. Anyway, Ipoh's skyline at night is getting nicer since some new high rise buildings completed and installed with decorating lights. I hope it will be more charming when more high rise towers completed in near future and featured with awesome light effect.
 

Gear Up at D'Festivo

The condominium of D'Festivo Residences at Ipoh Garden East will be another obvious landmark after MH Hotel at the North-South Expressway exit. The 22-storey building that located right beside the expressway has just begun constructing its tower block not too long ago but the progress seems promising. Despite the raining season, night work would have extended its building capacity and certainly helps in speeding the grow.

Skyline Viewed from Ibis Style Hotel

A peaceful night scene viewed from the roof top bar of Ibis Style Hotel. Ipoh skyline at night isn't impressive at all. However, I believe it will improve in coming few years.

Night Scene of Old Town at July'14

Night scene of Old Town does not differ much from New Town, except there is lesser high rise building, despite one hotel project is on going. Old Town shall be controlled to limit number of high rise building in order to maintain the originality of the oldest part of Ipoh. We shall learn from the European cities, where most are still maintaining their heritage buildings properly without excessive interference of modern architecture structures.

 

Night Scene of New Town at July'14

Night scene of New Town skyline is seen with additional lightings, mainly from the working tower cranes at several construction sites. Although Ipoh city skyline at night is still lacking behind as compare other Malaysian cities, it has slightly improved from the past with some new decorative signboards on the high rise buildings. Hopefully there will be more creative lightings upon completion of few major projects (Weil Hotel, The Majestic, The Octagon, Ipoh Convention Centre) to beautify the skyline at night.

Super Moon of July

A extraordinary bright moon is seen tonight which caught my eyes when I was on the way home. As I know today is the 16th day of lunar month, and full moon last night should normally the brightest one. Anyway, I get to know later this is indeed the super moon. It appeared bigger when it was just rose from the horizon. Unfortunately I was too late to find a nice spot for capturing the super moon. Luckily there is a second chance very soon, where we shall expect another super moon on 10th August 2014, and I wish there will be clear weather to witness the beautiful scene.

It's The City of Light

The night of Chinese New Year second day, coincidentally is a Saturday night. Cars are packing almost every main streets of Ipoh city, even more congested than normal day time. Together with the decorative red lantern at Hugh Low Street, Ipoh has become the city of light. Despite heavier burden to the citizen at the rising standard of living, most people still choose to celebrate the festive holiday at restaurants and amusement centers. I believe tonight is the peak of Chinese New Year celebration. When people gradually leaving Ipoh and back to their working position in the coming two days, the pulse of the city will return to its original pace.

Times Square Ipoh

I bet there are still many Ipoh citizen do not aware that we have already got a Times Square in the city. It is, indeed not a new commercial centre but just renamed from previous 1-Casuarina by Team Keris. Anyway, for a place that carry the name "Times Square", it is always a landmark of trendy, elegance and glamorous. And this commercial park is certainly not on par with our expectation.
 

Ipoh City - The Silver Jubilee

27-May-2013 is a special day for Ipoh which many may not aware of. This day in 25 years ago, Ipoh was granted status of city by the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah. Since then 27-May is Ipoh's city day. However, there were no major celebrations on every city day since 1988. According to the first mayor, Dato' Omar, grand celebration will only be held on special anniversary, such as the silver jubilee. Time flies and Ipoh is now 25 years old as a city which I have never expected this day would come so soon. Somehow the joy of silver jubilee is not felt in the city except some regular events held by the city council.



And this is the oldest newspaper (24 years ago) I able to keep till today with the article highlighting Ipoh's vision on its future after gaining the status as a city. Nevertheless, Ipoh is not a fast blooming city in Malaysia but it still gone through many changes, developments during these years and the sense of pride among its citizens is boosting. Wishing that Ipoh will remain as a growing and charming city in the coming years, well preserved of its beautiful heritage and nature to become a truly glorious and harmony haven.



 

Twilight of The City

The end of a sunny day in Ipoh seen with a cloudless twilight which sharpens the outline of Kledang Range. The city started to light on to welcome a peaceful but warm and humid night.
 

Merrier River Walk @ Kinta Riverfront

The River Walk at Kinta Riverfront is getting merrier during Chinese New Year when many shops and stalls opened alongside the river. Decorative lighting has also increased since my last visit in December. Visitors are flooding the river bank tonight either for photographing, food or to enjoy the stage performance. The River Walk is successfully marked as one of the latest visiting spot of tourism in Ipoh. Hopefully it will be wisely maintained and turn up to be the city's attraction point to tourist.

 

New Town Skyline at Night

Viewing at northeast and east from Kinta Heights is Ipoh New Town where more high rise buildings are seen. Among those, Tower Regency Hotel is the most outstanding one with its decorative lighting and its height as New Town's tallest building. Anyway, the scene will be different in 2 to 3 years time when few more high rise buildings completed, such as Weil Hotel, The Octagon, The Majestic and Laman Bougainvillea Convention Centre.

Old Town Skyline at Night

After some positive feedback on Ipoh's skyline at night which posted some days ago, I am quite eager to share more night scenes from high spot. Tonight I have chosen Kinta Heights to capture the beautiful night scene of Ipoh city at several different angles. From top to bottom, these are the photos focused on Old Town that taken towards north (Kinta Riverfront Hotel, Wisma Taiko & Islamic Complex are seen), northwest (Railway Station & Town Hall) and west (Tabung Haji Building & suburb of Silibin, Buntong) respectively. There are more photos of New Town to be posted soon :)

 

Colorful Night Skyline

I have posted the day time skyline as viewed from Coliseum Square multi-storey car park last month, so happen I am at the same spot tonight to capture this night scene of Ipoh city. We are now having more colors at night especially the roof top signage of high rise building. Meanwhile, Kinta Riverfront Hotel shall be complimented for contributing additional colors to the city skyline from its twin buildings, in addition to the colorful light bulb trees installed along Kinta River.

Beautiful Mall at Night

Mydin Mall in Meru Raya is the biggest mall of this local chained hypermarket in Malaysia. Despite its size, the exterior architecture of main entrance side which display unique Islamic pattern making it one of the best looking buildings in Ipoh. The mall become even more charming at night when embellished with appropriate lighting.

 

A Brighter Central Market

As a result from the setup of UTC, Central Market building finally gets some exterior lighting & making surrounding streets a brighter environment. However, due to no additional commercial value from the establishment of UTC, this part of New Town is still a dead district with very limited people visiting at night. To hope for the local authorities for turning the situation is kind of impossible.

 

"Images of Ipoh" 4th Anniversary

"Images of Ipoh" is 4 years old!! And there are already over 900 photos posted here for sharing. I never expect I could go this far and truly grateful to have you loving to read the posts and photos in this blog. In order to celebrate the birthday of "Images of Ipoh", I choose to return to this same location and capture the scene which was published in the very first post 4 years ago. Thank you very much!!